Chapter 394 - Chapter 394: Illusion

Chapter 394: Illusion

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Ever since she met Empress Wen, Yu Niaoniao had been thinking about what Empress Wen had said to her.

She wanted to know what Xiao Juan had done in Jinguan City three years ago. Was he related to the Feng family’s annihilation?

This doubt was like a poisonous snake that entrenched itself in her heart and kept gnawing at her nerves.

If she could not resolve this question, she would probably not be able to face Xiao Juan without any grudges in the future.

She had to know the truth!

She turned back to the door.

The door to the Qianji Building was still open, but the Eagle Guards were outside. They could not see what was happening inside. At this moment, she was alone in the Qianji Building.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Yu Niaoniao raised a foot and gently stepped on the wooden stairs.

The lantern emitted a dim yellow light, illuminating the path in front of her.

She lifted the hem of her dress with one hand and walked up.

When she reached the second floor, she saw a door with a copper lock.

This place was actually locked.

Yu Niaoniao refused to give up. She carried the lantern and continued up.

It turned out that it wasn’t just the second floor. The third and fourth floors were also locked.

It was impossible to enter without a key.

No wonder Meng Xizhou could leave her alone in the Qianji Building. He was not afraid of her going upstairs to spy on secrets at all.

Yu Niaoniao could only turn back and walk down the stairs.

She thought to herself that as the person in charge of the Justice Department, Xiao Juan must have the key to the Qianji Building.

If she could steal the key from him…

No, no!

As soon as the thought appeared, she pressed it down.

Xiao Juan trusted her so much. How could she steal his things?!

She would never do such an ungrateful thing.

Forget it. she would think of something else.

If it really didn’t work out, she would go back to Bashu personally and dig up the case from back then before investigating.

Unknowingly, she had reached the second floor.

When she rounded the corner and was about to walk down to the first floor, she saw someone standing at the bottom stair.

That person’s figure was tall and slender as he stood quietly in the darkness. His black brocade robe seemed to be one with the darkness.

Yu Niaoniao froze in place, the blood in her body almost frozen.

Why was Xiao Juan back?

He had instructed her not to go upstairs, but she had sneaked upstairs. Surely he would be angry?

How could she explain it to him?

Xiao Juan raised his head slightly and looked at the girl standing at the top of the stairs.

“I told you not to go upstairs.”

It was a simple sentence, and the tone was flat. There was no reproach at all.

However, Yu Niaoniao was panicking.

Her palms were sweaty as she held the lantern. She wanted to explain, but her throat felt blocked. She couldn’t say a word.

Xiao Juan looked at her steadily and asked, “What are you looking for upstairs?”

Yu Niaoniao did not know what to say.

Was she going to say that she wanted to know what Xiao Juan had done in Jinguan City three years ago?

Wasn’t it obvious that she suspected him?

Xiao Juan asked, “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Yu Niaoniao knew that she had to give an explanation for today’s matter. Xiao Juan would never give her a chance to muddle through.

She mustered her courage to speak.

“I want to check something.”

Xiao Juan asked, “Do you want to investigate the Feng family’s annihilation three years ago? Didn’t I already agree to let you read the dossier back then?”

Yu Niaoniao said, “I’ve already read the dossier, but there are still some things I don’t understand.”

“What kind of things?”

Yu Niaoniao asked, “Did you bring the Eagle Guards to Jinguan City three years

Xiao Juan immediately understood what she meant.

“You suspect that I wiped out the entire Feng family?”

Yu Niaoniao shook her head quickly. Because she was in such a hurry, her voice trembled.

“I didn’t!”

“I just think it’s all too much of a coincidence.”

“Coincidentally, the Feng family encountered an accident at that time and you brought the Eagle Guards to Jinguan City.”

“You told me before that there’s no such thing as a pure coincidence. Perhaps the two things are related…” Xiao Juan interrupted her. “You’re suspicious of me.”

His tone was colder than ever.

Yu Niaoniao seemed to have returned to the first time she met Xiao Juan.

He had been so cold and heartless then. She was no different from a rock by the roadside in his eyes. Her life and death were irrelevant to him.

At that time, she did not think much of it and could even get through it with a laugh.

But now she felt terrible.

She felt so bad she wanted to cry.

Yu Niaoniao tried her best to explain.

“I just want to figure out the connection between the two things. Perhaps as long as I figure it out, I’ll know the truth about the Feng family’s destruction.”

Even at a distance, even in the dim light.

Xiao Juan could still see the tears in her eyes.

Yu Niaoniao sniffed and tried her best to force back her tears.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have disobeyed you and gone upstairs without permission. I’ll accept any punishment you want.”

Xiao Juan resisted the urge to walk over and hug her and said calmly.

“I can forget about today, but there’s something else I want you to tell me truthfully.”

Yu Niaoniao hurriedly replied, “Tell me!”

Xiao Juan stared at her and asked word by word.

“The reason why you were willing to marry me back then was to get close to me so that you could better investigate the Feng family’s annihilation?”

Yu Niaoniao was stunned for a moment before denying it without hesitation.

“Of course not! I’m just admiring His Highness…”

Xiao Juan interrupted her.

“I want the truth!”

He had interrogated so many prisoners and seen countless lies. Yu Niaoniao’s acting skills were nothing. In the past, he could be fooled by her because he was willing to believe her.

But now he didn’t want to be bewitched by her sweet words.

Yu Niaoniao opened her mouth, wanting to say that this was the truth a few times.

But as long as she met the man’s sharp gaze, she could not say it.

In the end, she could only admit defeat.

“Yes, I did have some thoughts when I approached you back then.”

“I wanted to investigate the Feng family’s annihilation, but I was alone and no one would help me. I could only think of a way to approach you.”

“You’re in charge of the Justice Department. The Justice Department has spies all over the world and is very well-informed.”

“If I can gain your trust, I might be able to get some clues from you.”

Her answer was almost identical to what Shen Zhuo had said.

Xiao Juan felt as if he was soaking in cold water.

So he’d held out a glimmer of hope that Shen Zhuo had lied to him.

It turned out that he was too naive.

Xiao Juan thought that he was already a heartless person.

But now he felt very uncomfortable in his heart. It was as if he had been cut by a blunt knife. It was not fatal, but it was especially torturous. “In that case, were you lying to me when you said you admired me previously?”

“Is your kindness to me also a means to gain my trust?”

“Was the kindness and cheerfulness you displayed also an illusion you deliberately put up?”